A memorial playground built in honour of two fallen firefighters south-west of Sydney, has been set alight by vandals in a what's been labelled a "low act" by the region's deputy mayor.
Key points:
- Vandals set alight two pieces of equipment at the memorial playground in Buxton
- The playground was created in December as a tribute to fallen fire fighters Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffrey Keaton
- Wollondilly Shire ratepayers may have to pick up the damage tab, thought to be in the thousands of dollars.
The Buxton playground was created as a tribute to rural fire service volunteers Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffery Keaton, who died during the black summer bushfires in 2019.
Deputy mayor of the Wollondilly Shire Michael Benasik said he was shocked and appalled when he was notified by a member of the community.
"It's just such a low act," Cr Benasik said.
"Everyone knows why that playground was there. The memorial was very close to where the vandalism happened.
Supplied: Buxton Rural Fire Brigade
)'Absolutely abhorrent'
Mr Benasik said emergency services were twice called to the area over the weekend after individual pieces of equipment were set on fire.
"Sadly, the Buxton RFS were called out to put the fires out on this fire memorial," he said.
"There's been so much outcry about it from the community and, hopefully, the culprits will be caught," Mr Benasik said.
The Buxton Rural Fire Brigade took to Facebook to condemn the act.
"Last night we responded to two incidents, approximately two hours apart," the post on Monday read.
"Both incidents were located at Telopea Park in Buxton, where we were met with the devastating realisation that members of our very own community have vandalised the Memorial Playground and surrounding structures.
"We, like our community around us, are finding it hard to fathom why anyone would want to attempt to destroy the playground that stands in honour of our fallen comrades," it said.
Supplied
)Thousands to repair
Wollondilly Council staff are assessing the damage, but Mr Benasiak estimated it would cost ratepayers thousands of dollars to repair.
Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffrey Keaton were both killed when the truck they were in rolled as they travelled to battle the Green Wattle Creek fire.
The playground was unveiled by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian in December last year after the Wollondilly community raised almost $300,000 towards its construction.
As well, the federal government allocated funding from its $1 million disaster recovery grant.
New South Wales Police are investigating the incident.
Vandals light two fires at Buxton's memorial playground for local brigade's fallen firies - ABC News
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